What are the legal aspects of starting an online retail store?

*********** asked:


Do I need any licenses? What forms will I have to fill out for the IRS. How do I handle sales tax? I live in NC and will have no other employees. Any information you could give me will be greatly appreciated. I’ve asked this question in the business section but the only answers I get are people trying to get me to fall for some get rich quick internet scheme.

Filed Under Law & Ethics | 1 Comment

I’m trying to figure out what kind of sales tax I have to charge on my internet business selling art from TX?

Laura G asked:


If anybody has any insight or can help me find a place to start looking for the answer I would greatly appreciate it. Thank you!

Filed Under United States | 3 Comments

On tax free weekend including computer purchases, can a national chain charge me tax on an internet purchase?

ACK & DJ asked:


I thought it would be easier than fighting crowds at the stores, but then I got slammed on the tax that no one else is paying for the same items. The company claims they have to charge state sales tax if there is a store of theirs in your state, but if you buy at their store, you don’t have to pay the sales tax. WTF?
Company agreed it was a mistake on their part and refunded the sales tax. This is not a gimmick, it is a statewide tax free weekend ordered by the governer used as an incentive to increase sales before school begins.

Filed Under Other - Business & Finance | 8 Comments

How would I be categorized politically?

anonymous asker asked:


I support unborn rights and would support a pro-life amendment to the constitution, with the only acceptation for the mother’s life.

I would abolish the department of education because it’s a local and state level responsibility.

I support the right to bear arms, concealed weapons licenses, hunting, stand your ground laws, etc.

I support a 2 strikes and your out drunk driving law.

I support a his body his choice law banning infant circumcision unless it is to treat a legitimate medical condition.

I support the decriminalizing of marijuana because it is less harmful than alcohol.

I think the drinking age should be 18 to match the age of adulthood.

I think it is of the highest urgency to become and stay energy independent.

I support nuclear power and increasing the number of nuclear power plants across America.

I would push the auto makers to make electric cars available for drivers who want them.

I would set and push for goals of energy independence, curing cancer, and paying down the nation debt.

I oppose the endangered species act because it has failed to protect one species and has only given government control of people’s land.

I would raise the levels of fines on employers hiring illegal aliens.

Homeland security should only be used as an anti-terror agency and criminal law enforcement should be handled by other agencies.

I don’t believe there is such thing as a gay marriage and think we should give them the same privileges that comes with marriage but call it something else.

I think capitalism is the greatest antipoverty tool the world has ever seen and encourage the economy, not put outrageous taxes on it.

I don’t believe humans are warming up the Earth but I think we need to clean up some of the messes we are making such as air quality.

I believe in a small federal government. I don’t think the general public should even notice the federal government unless they visit their local military recruiter or post office.

No more ethanol, it causes higher grocery bills and less MPG.

I support Boone’s plan.

I support the rights of nudists to live their lifestyle on their privately owned property without the government telling them they must put clothes on.

I am a Christian but don’t think it’s the government’s job to push morality, I think morality must come from the people up. Not the government down.

I support net neutrality, and oppose bandwidth caps.

I would revert our copyright laws back to that of the Webster and Benjamin Franklin years: An item can be copyrighted for 14 years, renewable once, then falls into public domain.

We allow men to go out in public shirtless. I support amending the law allowing both genders to do the same. One gender shirtless is discrimination. I support women’s rights to breast feed in public. That is the function of the breast. I don’t think anyone has ever been harmed for seeing a breast.

I think smokers should be required to pay their own way when they get cancer and heart disease. Not get public money to fight a self imposed condition.

I would allow people to own their social security accounts and allow them to invest in a Roth IRA within their social security account so the people may build a nest egg to retire on. Each person will own their account and congress may never dip into it.

I would make it illegal for credit card companies to raise interest rates, at will, with no delinquent activity: banning universal default.

Absolutely, no more national debt. No more borrowing.

After a natural disaster, no funds should be given by the federal government to rebuild private property, only that which was owned by the public. Schools, highways, libraries, city halls, may be rebuilt by the taxpayer but not people’s privately owned property. It’s not our problem if they don’t insure their property.

I oppose bailouts of the private sector. If banks want to make bad loans to people who they know can’t afford to pay them back, so be it. They will have to own their misbehavior. Not the taxpayer.

I believe terminally ill patients should be allowed to take experimental drugs that have yet to receive FDA approval.

Lets get rid of the IRS, replace tax system with flat tax or national sales tax. The IRS and current tax code only exists to control people.

I oppose taxes on broadband internet access, sales tax on in items bought online, and regulation of online content.

I don’t believe our government is up to the task of providing national heath care and it’s much better off left in the hands of the private sector.

I think adults should legally be able to take steroids for body building if he is not competing in competitive sports.

I think daylight savings time should be expanded to a year round project.

I oppose the government regulating the content of literature, films, video games, etc.

Filed Under Politics | 8 Comments

What can I write off tax-wise by working remotely from my home office?

Emily B asked:


I started a new job May 1st where I work from my home office. I’m a Sales Director and my corp office is in Phoenix. My company already pays for my landline phone and high speed internet service. I am being told that I can write off part of my mortgage as well as my utility bills. Other than telling me to talk to an accountant I am looking for some quick answers. Thanks!
And yes… my company expects me to maintain my home office so it’s not a personal choice but a corporate one.
I am using one of my bedrooms exclusively as an office and I work 8-10 hours a day in this space. My taxes are professionally done so I am sure I will get my answers tax time. I just wanted to get a heads up on some of the stuff I could write off.

Filed Under United States | 5 Comments

Is it possible to open a bank account in a state where you have no residence?

zidag123 asked:


I am selling products over the internet and I want to get out of NY sales tax. If I open my account for the online business in another state then I can get out of NY sales tax when I sell to New Yorkers which will be my main clientele. Is it possible to open a bank account in another state where I am not living?

Filed Under Small Business | 2 Comments

Use tax, what’s the deal?

gurlygurl20000 asked:


Okay I asked a question earlier about having to pay use tax on International purchases on the internet, and one person did answer saying that, it’s a personal asset tax where you get to decide how much of the sales tax you want to pay, etc, and lastly said that very, very, very few people actually file those because it’s impossible for them to track all the purchases. And use tax to my understanding is a tax put on purchases made out of state or country. But last year I had a few out-of-state purchases, and one really tiny out of country purchase, and I didn’t get anything from the IRS saying I had to pay an extra tax or anything.

So is this an optional tax?
Okay I get it, the IRS can’t do anything but the state can. I happen to live in VA so I think there’s a use tax. The (most) purchases I made didn’t give me a tax receipt, I contacted the person and she said she was below the threshold in her country to pay taxes, so that’s why I didn’t get a tax receipt.

Filed Under United States | 4 Comments

how do you start a nation wide business?

redsoxguy asked:


from planning, to getting grants, loans, and money for startup, to trademarks, attorneys, accountants, marketing, advertising, employees, wholesale, retail, internet and ebay sales, franchising, LLC’s, taxes, investing, building logos, websites, And everything else i need to know.

Filed Under Small Business | 1 Comment

How can I use self-directed IRA money to participate in internet auctions for tax-lien certificates?

investor8406 asked:


I’m trying to get started in investing in tax-lien certificates using money in my self-directed IRA. I’d like to try participating in online auctions for county tax sales, but many of them require you to deposit some sort of “down payment” as good faith money. Does anyone know if/how I can get the money from my IRA for my deposit, so that my IRA completely holds the entire interest in these assets? Thanks in advance for your help.

Filed Under Investing | 3 Comments

What is the difference between an EIN and a Resale Tax ID?

Susan S asked:


I want to open a web store and applied at the IRS website for an EIN. Is this all I will need? Is the EIN the same as the RTI? I live in Texas but my sales will be internet only.

Filed Under United States | 2 Comments

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